Mark Almond/Birmingham NewsAlabama quarterback Phillip Sims gets ready to hand off during Saturday's A-Day game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Sims likely will redshirt in 2010.TUSCALOOSA -- Between now and the first of September, plenty of poll voters and analysts are sure to peg Alabama's football team as a preseason No. 1.

But one knowledgeable voice disagrees: Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban.

"If this team is No.1, it's because of what they did last year," Saban said. "It's not what they've done. They haven't done anything. We have some good players back and we have a lot of issues and questions, especially on defense, especially with our specialists in the kicking game.

"If I was voting, I would think there is somebody who has more players coming back that had a successful team last year that is going to be more ready to compete that way."

It's coach-speak for Saban to want to lower expectations, but even national champions have questions to address. After 15 spring practices, how much closer is Alabama to those answers?

Take a look back at five questions asked by the Press-Register before spring practice with a few answers after Saturday's A-Day Game.

1. Which newcomers are ready now?

Of the 11 signees that enrolled early at Alabama, 10 wound up joining the team. Offensive lineman Darius McKeller went on medical scholarship for a chronic wrist injury, but the remaining group is still quite capable.

Cornerbacks DeMarcus Milliner (No. 4 in the Press-Register's Super Southeast 120) and John Fulton (No. 23) each made strides this spring and will contend for playing time.

Though Milliner was beaten by Brandon Gibson for the game-winning touchdown Saturday, he finished with five tackles, tying for third on the Crimson team. Meanwhile, Fulton broke up a game-high two passes. And former Vigor standout Jalston Fowler, moved from running back to linebacker, played well and often Saturday.

Perhaps the most-touted signee of Alabama's 2010 class, quarterback Phillip Sims, did not seriously challenge for one of top two spots in spring. He appears destined for a redshirt year behind Greg McElroy and AJ McCarron.

2. What's next for Saban's pet positions?

Saban coaches Alabama's secondary -- a prime concern this spring -- and accepted even more responsibility by moving defensive coordinator Kirby Smart to the linebackers and bringing new position coach Jeremy Pruitt into the secondary.

Sophomores Dre Kirkpatrick and B.J. Scott, a former Vigor standout, exited spring as the top cornerbacks to replace Kareem Jackson and Javier Arenas. The mix behind those two players includes Milliner, Fulton and LSU transfer Phelon Jones, who hails from McGill-Toolen.

"I'm pleased with the progress of the first two corners and having the two freshman guys here (Fulton and Milliner), I thought they made some progress," Saban said. "We're not totally settled at safety."

St. Paul's Mark Barron is a sure starter at safety. Another Mobile-area product, former Foley standout Robert Lester, totaled a game-high eight tackles for A-Day and appears to be the top option at the other safety spot. Junior Robby Green, who was expected to play there, is out for the 2010 season by NCAA mandate.

3. Who'll be special on the special teams?

A big question before spring is probably the largest remaining one now. Place-kicker Cade Foster would be the only true freshman in line for a starting role in 2010 if it wasn't for former Thomasville punter Jay Williams.

It became clear Saturday that Williams is a key component next season, and he isn't even on campus yet. Alabama needs help at punter, as walk-on Zach Goehler struggled to a 35.2-yard average on eight A-Day attempts.

"I think we have two good enough kickers that between the leg strength of one guy and the accuracy of the other, we can come up with a pretty good kicking game from that standpoint," Saban said. "We really don't have a punter."

4. Will there be more pop for the offense?

The phrase "explosive plays" was repeated often during spring practice, as an experienced Alabama offense tried take advantage of all the returning skill talent by opening things a bit more.

"We've really thrown the ball effectively and made a lot more explosive plays," Saban said last week, "not only in the scrimmages but every day in practice."

Though much of that work was not revealed during A-Day, there were a few trick plays and deep passes. If this is any indication, four quarterbacks combined for 450 passing yards Saturday, while the Crimson Tide collectively rushed for 139 yards.

5. Who is the next quarterback of the defense?

Junior linebacker Dont'a Hightower returned with a vengeance this spring after a remarkably quick recovery from reconstructive knee surgery that prematurely ended his 2009 season.

Hightower didn't miss one practice or scrimmage and projects as the new 'Mike' linebacker, replacing signal-caller Rolando McClain in the middle of Alabama's defense.

In that sense, there may not be a more valuable member of the Crimson Tide's team heading into this offseason than Hightower.